RU2536754C1 - Combined wave energy converter - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: power industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the power industry, namely to sea wave energy removal devices in a near-shore area. A combined wave energy converter is made in the form of a hollow reinforced-concrete mass 1 forming a pool having the front (facing to the sea) wall 4 with inlet plate-like valves 8 in the underwater part and an inlet valve in the upper part and a rear wall 6 with an outlet water line and low-pressure hydraulic turbine 11 in the underwater part. The upper valve of the front wall 4 is made in the form of a floating pontoon 9 on a hinged connection, which is inclined inside the pool. On the upper edge of the rear wall there attached by means of a hinge is a flap 12 elevated above the water surface and retained in a vertical position with elastic couplings 13, which is capable of being swung by crests of big waves and has an additional line power takeoff device 14.

EFFECT: invention is aimed at the improvement of the wave energy takeoff efficiency, automatic control and coordination of operation of a combination of different working elements of the device.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of energy, in particular to devices for extracting the energy of sea waves in the coastal zone.

A wave power installation based on a reservoir or a pool filled with water by overflowing the wave crests through a front wall or a wave energy concentrator (OWEC type Overtopping Wave Energy Converter), in particular the TAPCHAN system, is known from the level of technology development. When the water level rises in the reservoir, a pressure is formed, as a result of which a flow is formed in the outlet channel, which drives the low-pressure hydraulic turbine located in it.

The prior art device with a wave swinging wave, having positive buoyancy, pivotally connected to the foundation at the bottom, driving a power take-off device (type OWSC - Oscillating wave surge converter), in particular the ″ Oyster ″ system (see US 8004105 B2, 02/07/1981, F03B13 / 12).

The disadvantage of OWEC is its low efficiency, due to the high loss of wave energy when they are reflected from the front wall or when moving along a narrowing channel, as well as when splashing in the pool. In addition, effective operation of the OWEC device is only possible in a narrow wavelength range. Effective use of OWSC is only possible on large waves, when there is intense swinging of the wings. In addition, it is difficult to ensure safety against destruction by storm waves for this design. Also, both types of devices are ineffective in areas with significant tidal fluctuations in sea level.

The technical solution closest to the invention is an OWEC-type device with an inlet plate valve above the front wall in the form of hinged plates with positive buoyancy and an outlet flow channel with a turbogenerator (see RU 2046207 C1, 20.10.1995, F03B 13/26).

The disadvantages of this technical solution are: increased energy loss due to reflection of waves from the front wall in the sea; the absence of the back wall of the pool, the role of which is played by the shore, which in most cases will lead to a large width of the pool and the inability to significantly increase the level in it, therefore, to a small pressure in the outlet.

The task of the invention is to provide the most complete selection of the potential and kinetic energy of the waves in a wide range of their heights and frequencies, including tidal and storm waves, while protecting the coast from storm waves.

The technical result of the invention is to increase the efficiency of energy selection of waves, to ensure automatic regulation and coordination of the combination of various working elements of the device.

The specified technical result is achieved by a three-level wave energy extraction system (in the underwater part, near the level of still water and above the surface of the water). The invention consists in the following. A hollow reinforced concrete massif in the form of a pool, fixed at the bottom, has walls that rise above the water. The inlet valves are located in the underwater part of the front (facing the sea) wall, which fill the pool and reduce the reflection of waves from the wall into the sea. Filling the pool with water also occurs by overflowing the wave crests through the front wall, which has a floating pontoon in the upper part, which acts as the upper valve, passing wave crests into the pool and blocking the backflow of water. The back wall of the pool in the underwater part has an outlet conduit with a low-pressure hydraulic turbine operating on an electric generator. On the upper edge of the back wall, a hinge is mounted vertically held by elastic ties, which sways by the crests of large storm waves, transmitting energy to an additional linear power take-off device, while reducing waves in the pool, preventing backflow, and blocking the path of storm waves to the inner water area.

The coordination of the lower valves and the upper pontoon of the front wall is as follows. The lower valves, reducing the reflection of waves and preventing the formation of standing waves, ensure the roll crests of the waves on the upper pontoon. The simultaneous flow of water into the pool through the lower valves and the upper pontoon automatically provides an effective tilt of the pontoon at the time of the wave crest, which leads to an increase in the height of the crest.

The automatic coordination of the operation of the upper pontoon of the front wall and the sash on the rear wall is as follows. The shutter with an additional power take-off device absorbs the energy of the waves entering the pool, while simultaneously reducing the reflected waves in the pool and preventing their negative influence on the tilt of the pontoon, which ensures the effective rolling of external waves into the pool and their absorption by the shutter.

The essential features characterizing the invention.

Restrictive: the energy converter of sea waves in the coastal zone in the form of a hollow reinforced concrete massif forming a pool having a front (facing the sea) wall with inlet plate valves in the underwater part and an inlet valve in the upper part, and a back wall with an outlet water conduit and a low-pressure turbine in underwater part.

Distinctive: the upper valve of the front wall is made in the form of a floating pontoon that is inclined inward to the pool at a hinge, and a sash is attached to the upper edge of the rear wall by a hinge, which rises above the surface of the water and is held in a vertical position by elastic ties, able to swing by the crests of large waves and having an additional linear power take-off device.

Significant new features make it possible to increase the efficiency of the installation in a wide spectrum of wave heights and variable levels by combining several means of capturing and converting wave energy and their location relative to each other, which ensures their coordinated operation and automatic flow control, reducing losses due to wave reflection and protecting the coast from storm waves.

The drawing shows a side view of the wave energy Converter.

The combined wave energy converter contains a giant array 1 of gravity type, which can be made of reinforced concrete and additionally fixed from displacement by piles 2 and / or ballast 3. The walls of the array (front 4, side 5 and rear 6) and bottom 7 form a pool. The front wall has underwater openings with inlet plate valves 8, a pontoon 9 articulated with stops 10. An outlet with a low-pressure hydraulic turbine 11, an articulated sash 12, held vertically by elastic couplings 13, a power take-off (linear generator) is located in the rear wall fourteen.

Installation for converting wave energy works as follows. The incident wave opens the valves 8 in the underwater part of the front wall 4, forming an input flow of water into the pool. The water level in the pool rises, raising the pontoon 9. At the same time, the wave crest rolls onto the pontoon 9 and then overflows into the pool. In this case, the pontoon has a slope, providing an increase in the height of the rolling crest of the wave. With a large increase in the level in the pool, for example, with significant tidal or storm waves, the pontoon 9 can take a vertical position. To prevent it from turning towards the sea, stops 10 are provided. After the wave peak passes, the valves 8 in the front wall are closed due to the fact that the pressure in the pool at this moment exceeds the pressure under the wave sole in front of the wall. The pressure of water formed in the pool drives the hydraulic turbine 11 in the rear wall 6, connected with the electric generator. The crests of large waves entering the pool deflect the leaf 12, the return of which to the vertical position is carried out by elastic bonds 13. The energy of the leaf motion is converted into electric energy by a linear generator 14. To prevent the installation from being displaced by extreme waves, piles 2 and / or ballast 3 are provided.

The width and angle of inclination of the pontoon at an average water level in the pool are selected from the condition of achieving the highest concentration of energy on the crests of the waves. Inlet valves in the underwater part of the front wall reduce the reflection of waves, exclude the formation of standing waves in front of the wall, which contributes to a better roll-up of wave crests and their overflow through a floating pontoon. The shutter on the rear wall further reduces the reflection of waves in the pool and prevents them from splashing back into the sea, and also protects the coast from storm waves.

To increase the power of the power plant and the formation of a wave-protected water area, several transducers can be installed in the form of a breakwater extended along the seashore.

Claims (1)

A combined wave energy converter in the form of a hollow reinforced concrete massif forming a pool having a front (facing the sea) wall with inlet plate valves in the underwater part and an inlet valve in the upper part and a back wall with an outlet water conduit and a low-pressure turbine in the underwater part, characterized in that the upper valve of the front wall is made in the form of a floating pontoon tilted inward to the pool at a hinged connection, and a sash is attached to the upper edge of the rear wall by a hinge towering above the surface of the water and held in a vertical position by elastic bonds, capable of swaying the crests of large waves and having an additional linear power take-off device.